Jan’s Health Bar Expands to San Diego, Introduces New Smoothies and Summer Menu Favorites

Jan’s Health Bar, the iconic fast-casual concept with more than 50 years of history in Southern California, is celebrating a milestone year of growth and innovation.

Owner Poppy Holguin—who first started working at Jan’s as a teenager and purchased the flagship location in 2010—has spent the past 15 years thoughtfully expanding the brand while staying true to its founding mission from 1972: making healthy food both enjoyable and approachable.

Today, Jan’s operates seven locations across Southern California, including a recently opened store in Long Beach. This week, the brand enters the San Diego market for the first time with its newest location at One Paseo in Del Mar.

Jan’s continues to nourish a loyal following with fresh, whole-ingredient meals rooted in clarity, flavor and feel-good nutrition.

This month, Jan’s introduces a new series of smoothies packed with wellness-boosting ingredients such as colostrum, pasture-fed collagen protein, CoQ10, creatine, essential electrolytes, plant-based protein and adaptogens. Designed to energize and support a balanced lifestyle, the new lineup reflects Jan’s continued evolution with wellness-forward offerings.

Leading the rollout is The Poppy Smoothie, a new menu item named after Holguin in celebration of her 15th year as owner. The Poppy Smoothie features raw peanut butter with a signature peanut butter swirl, fresh berries, pasture-fed collagen protein and Jan’s vegan vanilla protein with CoQ10. With 47 grams of protein and a flavor reminiscent of a nostalgic PB&J, it’s a tribute to the woman behind the brand’s modern growth.

Other new functional smoothie additions include:

• Power Mocha: Coffee, maca adaptogenic powder, chocolate protein with ashwagandha, lightly toasted almond butter, cacao nibs, banana, dates and almond milk
• Blue Power: Blueberries, blackberries, vanilla protein with CoQ10, creatine, essential electrolytes, banana and almond milk
• Hippy: Kale, spinach, hemp protein with omega-3 and omega-6, colostrum, raw peanut (or lightly toasted almond) butter, banana and 100% pure coconut water

Jan’s also introduced its own line of vegan protein powders, available in vanilla and cacao, along with a Crunchy Quinoa Topping, giving fans the option to recreate their favorite Jan’s smoothies and meals at home.

Back on the menu for summer is the guest-favorite Summer Salad, featuring mixed greens topped with fresh avocado, creamy feta, glazed walnuts, crisp apples, shredded carrots and mixed berries, served with house-made raspberry vinaigrette.

Since 1972, Jan’s Health Bar has remained dedicated to its original mission of making healthy food approachable and enjoyable. In a world of ever-changing diets and trends, Jan’s continues to offer a thoughtful menu of sandwiches, salads and smoothies designed to support a balanced lifestyle.

For more information, visit janshealthbar.com.

Taste of Japan Brings Food, Culture and Entertainment to Anaheim GardenWalk

Taste of Japan returns to STC Anaheim GardenWalk from Friday, June 13, to Sunday, June 15, offering a weekend of Japanese food, culture and entertainment. Now in its sixth year, the free, family-friendly festival draws more than 100,000 attendees annually.

More than 100 top Japanese vendors from Southern California will fill the GardenWalk with authentic street food, traditional meals, and curated merchandise. Festival-goers can explore Oishii Yokocho, a popular street food alley featuring eateries such as Kagura, Takoyaki Tanota, Midoh and more.

The main stage will feature daily live entertainment, including traditional Japanese drumming, martial arts, anime showcases and pop culture performances. Takumi Alley, a cultural market, will highlight Japanese art, handmade crafts and unique goods. Families can also enjoy classic Japanese festival games, toy vendors and anime-themed activities throughout the weekend.

New this year, Taste of Japan introduces Tokyo City Lights, a special opening-night celebration at House of Blues Anaheim. On Friday, June 13, attendees can enjoy a night of music, food and culture with performances by TeddyLoid, Vantage, MILK TALK, Fibre, Discoholic, Ken Harada and DJ Hello Kitty. All ticket holders will be entered to win exclusive prizes.

For guests 21 and older, Yokocho—a 13,000-square-foot VIP beer and sake garden hosted by Honda-Ya Japanese Restaurant—will offer authentic Japanese beverages and snacks. Yokocho tickets range from $15 to $75 and include tasting packages.

STC Anaheim GardenWalk is located at 400 W. Disney Way in Anaheim, near Disney California Adventure. Parking is available on-site and in nearby overflow lots. Ride-share services are encouraged for Yokocho VIP guests.

Taste of Japan is presented by Tanoshii Project and STC Anaheim GardenWalk. General admission to the festival is free. Tickets for Tokyo City Lights and Yokocho experiences are available online.

For more information on Taste of Japan, and to purchase these and other special event tickets, visit tasteofjpn.com

Step inside California Kinship at Langson IMCA

Visitors to Langson IMCA are encouraged to slow down, embrace the experience, and make space for a sense of awe and inspiration.

On view through Aug. 30, California Kinship: Painting Homelife in the Golden State Before 1940 invites guests into the private worlds of early 20th-century Californians. Curated by Langson IMCA Assistant Curator Michaëla Mohrmann, Ph.D., the exhibition features portraits and scenes of everyday life—capturing moments of intimacy, care, and connection at home. Many of the works on view are drawn from the museum’s Buck Collection.

Visitors of all ages can also enjoy the new Reading Lounge, In Focus gallery, and ongoing art-making activities designed to foster creativity and community.

In addition, the museum will host Rooted in Art: Planting and Painting in the California Garden, a special gallery talk in collaboration with Sherman Library & Gardens, on Saturday, July 26.

Langson IMCA remains free and open to the public year-round, offering a dynamic space to explore and discuss California art. Free 2-hour parking validation is available.

UC Irvine Jack and Shanaz Langson Institute and Museum of California Art
Interim Museum is located at 18881 Von Karman Ave., Irvine.

Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
imca.uci.edu